Improvement in clapboard-gauge



dilated (feinte-'5 Letters Patent N0.102,649, dated May 3, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLAPBOARD-GAUGB.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JoAB S. BIDDLECOM, of Ma cedon, in the county ot' Wayne and State of New York, have invented a certain Vnew and useful Clapvboard-(:`rauge and Bracket; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof', reference being had to the accompanying drawings making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my invention representing it as applied tothe clapboards.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation.

The object of my invention is to provide a convenient tool for carpenters use in laying clapboards, by which their weather-face is gauged, and the board supported while being lit-ted. v

lo enable others to make and use my invention, I will describe its construction and operation.

The stock A of my clapboard-gauge is cut away upon its inner face for a portion ot' its length, so as to rest at its lower end against a clapboard, and admit the succeeding one in the rebate so formed, as shown in l'ig. l. v

One or more metallic spurs, l), are secured to the inner face ot'` the stockk A, projecting over the'edge of the rebate, and made suliieiently thinY at the end to slip under the lower edge of the. nailed clapboard, as shown.

Immediately below the rebate in A, I provide a slide, B, moving in a mortise cnt through A, and having secured to it longitudinally one or more spin-sor blades, a, ground to 'an edge so as to enter the board easily.

This slide is operated by a knob upon its outer end, and is kept iu place by means of a slot and pin, or other similar device, as shown iu iig. 1.

The adjustable gauge-rest C slides in a suitable groove in the upper portion of the stock, and its adjustment is secured by a thumb-screw and nut,`c, or other equivalent device.

The length of the rest C is such that, when at its s A guard, D, is fixed to the rest, which retains the board while being marked and fitted. y The operation of my invention is as follows:

After the two lower boards (shown in section in fig.v

1) are seemed, the gauge is applied by inserting the `spurs b under the lower edge of the second board, and pushing it up to shoulder, as indicated in fig. .1. The slide B is then given a quick thrust .with the hand, which forces the blades a into the'lower board, hold ing the gauge securely against the building.

lhe gauge-rest C having been previously adjusted to the desired width of weather-face, the next board is laid upon it, as shown in outline in fig. 1, and its position thus determined.

For the purpose of marking and cutting oli` theclapboard, the guard D'is so situated as to allow it to slip by the corner board, as shown in dotted lines in iig. 1.

Instead of the stop C, I may use a spur or arm upon the guard D, and make the latter adjustable upon the stock A. v

lt is desirable that the spurs a enter the board iLumediately under the edge ot' the next one above, ywhereby the mark'left by the spurs will not be noyticed.

A scribing-plate may also be attached to either side of the gauge, by which the vboard may be marked for cutting oft'.

I do not intend to confine myself to the precise forni of the instrument herein shown, since other forms constructed of wood or metal, or both, may be adopted,

operating similarly, and possessing all its advantages,

as hereinbefore described.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to-secure by Letters Patent, is V The stock A, with its spurs or blades l), in combination with -the gauge-rest C, and sliding spurs or blades a, constructed, arranged, and operated substan tially as set forth.

J'. S. BIDDLEOUM.

Witnesses:

I". H. CLEMENT, Guo. 1. PARKER. 

